8,720
edits
Changes
m
→Repetitive Stress Disorder (RSD)
This page details physical injuries related to guitar playing. Most are related to muscles, the skeleton, and nerve compression, which can be avoided with care to [[Warm-Up Exercises|warming up]] and good posture.
== Repetitive Stress Disorder (RSD) or Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) ==Repetitive Stress Disorder or Repetitive Strain Injury is an umbrella term vaguely related to a variety of conditions that seem to resolve around repetitive motions and/or vibrations. Most of these revolve around pain in the muscles and joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and neck. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of solid information in this field, other than saying to avoid lots of small, repetitive motions and prolonged exposure to vibrating machinery. For guitar players, nearly all of guitar playing revolves around playing small, repetitive motions. The best advice is to [[Warm-Up Exercises|warm-up]], including stretches and improving blood flow. That will reduce the build-up of toxic byproducts in the muscles that can injure them and surrounding tissue, as well as reducing pressure on nerves. Listen to your body. If your joints start to ache, stop playing. Don't try to "push through" the pain. Do more stretches. As long as there is no associated pain, perform large, forceful, non-repetitive exercises on the affected muscles/joints - this will force blood into the muscles and clear out lingering toxins as well as stretching muscles and tendons. I'm talking about getting into a push-up position and lifting yourself by your finger-tips, as well as lifting weights - a few reps that really work the muscles and change the pace from the small, repetitive movements involved in playing guitar.
== Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) ==